Electrically powered can opener

ABSTRACT

A powered can opener for severing the outer layer of an end seam of a can, in which a can rim drive cog wheel is engageable with the lower side of the outer layer of the seam, a cutting wheel is positioned horizontally for severing the outer layer of the end seam, and a can rim engaging roller engages the inner layer of the end seam so as to press the outer layer toward the cutting edge of the cutting wheel during the can opening operation. The can opener further includes a lever mechanism for urging the engaging roller toward the inner layer of the end seam with an additional force when the cutting wheel severs a thicker portion of the end seam.

O United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,881,247 Niwa [451 May 6, 1975 ELECTRICALLY POWERED CAN OPENER 3,740,840 6/1973 McLaren 30/4 R Inventor: Tatuo Niwa, Miaken, Japan 3,805,380 4/1974 Yamomoto 30/4 R [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Aichi Denki Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Kosakusho, Kasugai, Japan Assistant Examiner-Margaret Joyce [22] Filed: June 22, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FzrmBerman, Bishoff & Platt Appl. No.: 372,778

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 8, I972 Japan 47-104898[U] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1929 Martini 30/251 42 1/1970 Hamwi 30/4 R 10/1972 Peterson 30/8.5

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A powered can opener for severing the outer layer of an end seam of a can, in which a can rim drive cog wheel is engageable with the lower side of the outer layer of the seam, a cutting wheel is positioned horizontally for severing the outer layer of the end seam, and a can rim engaging roller engages the inner layer of the end seam so as to press the outer layer toward the cutting edge of the cutting wheel during the can opening operation. The can opener further includes a lever mechanism for urging the engaging roller toward the inner layer of the end seam with an additional force when the cutting wheel severs a thicker portion of the end seam.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 6|975 Fig. 7

SHEET 1 OF 3 ELECTRICALLY POWERED CAN OPENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrically powered can opener, and more particularly to an improvement in a powered can opener of the type which severs the outer layer of an end seam of a can.

Conventional can openers of this type usually comprise such common parts as a can rim drive cog wheel engageable with the lower side of the outer seam layer. a cutting wheel positioned horizontally for severing the outer layer of the end seam, and a can rim engaging roller engageable with the inner layer of the end seam so as to press the outer layer toward the cutting edge of the cutting wheel during the can opening.

With this type of can opener, there is a problem involving the difference in thickness of an end seam of a can rim, which necessitates different pressing forces of the can toward the cutter. In those instances in which the can end seams are thicker or have thicker portions than normal, an extraordinary resistance occurs between the cutter and the end seam which prevents the can from being forwarded by the can drive cog wheel, and consequentially the can opening operation. Particularly, when the end seam over the welded portion of the can is severed, the mentioned portion of the can body being doubled in thickness, the cutting resistance increases suddenly and the can slips on the cog wheel and stops its rotation preventing the can opening operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To solve the mentioned problem, the present invention provides a mechanical device functioning to urge the can rim engaging roller toward the inner layer of the end seam with an additional force when the cutting wheel severs a thicker portion of the outer layer of the can end seam.

According to the present invention briefly summarized, there is provided with an electrically powered can opener which comprises a body frame, an electric motor housed within the body frame, a drive shaft horizontally journalled on the vertical front member of the frame and driven by the motor, a can rim drive cog wheel mounted on a protruding portion of theshaft extended from the front member to rotate a can by driving the lower edge of the outer layer of the end seam of the can, a cutting wheel rotatably mounted on the front member and positioned so that the cutting edge thereof may be engaged with the outer layer of the end seam, a lever mechanism mounted on the body frame to activate the motor, and a can rim engaging roller mounted rotatably on the lever mechanism in such a manner that the. engaging portion of the roller is brought inside and depresses the inner layer of the end seam toward the cutting edge of the cutting wheel upon operation of the lever mechanism.

The lever mechanism comprises an actuating lever pivoted for vertical movement on the inner wall of the front member of the body frame for activating the motor when depressed, an operation lever pivoted at one end on the inner wall coaxially with the actuating lever, a rotary plate journalling the engaging roller at one end thereof and at the other end thereof pivoted on a portion of the body frame, link means pivotally connecting the rotary plate to the operation lever, and a resilient means disposed between the other end of the operation lever and a portion of the actuating lever for normally biasing the actuating and operating levers toward each other, whereby the resilient means is stretched by a predetermined amount while the roller depresses the inner layer of the end seam and is further stretched when the cutting edge of the cutting wheel severs the thicker portion of the outer layer of the end seam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a powered can opener in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a backside view of the can opener, revealing the lever mechanism assembled within the body frame of the opener.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken with reference to line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing a can rim engaging roller mounted on the lever mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the engaging roller moved downwardly by the lever mechanism to cut the outer layer of the end seam of the can by way of the cutting edge of a cutting wheel, the cutting wheel being horizontally pivoted on the front member of the opener.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 4, showing the initial cutting operation of the can opener.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An electrically powered can opener l is exemplarily embodied in the drawings in accordance with the present invention. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, the can opener 1 comprises a front or operation face 2 and a body cover 3. A drive mechanism is contained within the hollow body of the can opener I and includes an electric motor 4 driving a reduction gear 5 system. A shaft 6 of the reduction gear 5 protrudes outwardly from the front face 2 and has a can rim drive cog wheel 7 secured to the protruding end thereof. The cog wheel 7 is provided with can rim engaging teeth and rear or cutter wheel engaging teeth, the latter being meshed with the toothed portion of a cutting wheel 8. The cutting wheel 8 is positioned rotatably over the cog wheel 7 at a right angle toward the cog wheel 7.

The front face 2 has an upper slant portion hanging over the remaining portion thereof. A can cover engaging roller 9 is rotatably mounted on the upper slant portion of the front face 2 so that the engaging roller 9 is displaceable in an askew relationship to the can rim drive cog wheel 7. As well illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the engaging roller 9 is journalled on a pin 12 secured on the central portion of a rotary metal plate 11 which is pivoted on a screw 10 on the backside of the slant portion of the front face 2. The engaging roller 9 ascends and descends in accordance with the swing movement of the rotarymetal plate 11. When the roller 9 descends, it pressingly engages with the inner side of the end seam of the can rim so that the outer layer of the end seam is urged onto the cutting wheel 8 and the lower edge of the outer layer of the end seam is also urged onto the can rim drive cog wheel 7.

An L-shaped can holding member 13 is firmly secured on the free end of the rotary metal plate 11. The free end of the L-shaped member 13 protrudes from an aperture 14 provided on the front face 2 and moves ascendently and descendently in relation with the swinging movement of the rotary metal plate 11. During the can opening operation, the descended can holding member 13 co-operates with a can holding post 15 projected from the front face 2 so as to condition correctly the can to the cutting position therefor by holding the upper portion of the can. The body wall of the can is well guided by a boss 27 integral with the front face 2.

A lever mechanism 16 comprises an operation lever 18 vertically rotatably journalled on a bracket 17 which is integral with the inner wall of the front face 2, a link 19 pivoted at its one end on a portion of the operation lever 18 and engaged at the other end thereof with the free or rotary end of the rotary metal plate 11, and an actuating handle lever 25 vertically journalled on the bracket 17 coaxially with the operation lever 18. The actuating handle lever 25 protrudes rearwardly so that its free end extends through a vertical slit 23 cut out of the back wall 3 of the body cover. The handle lever 25 is provided substantially at its center with an integral upward projection 24 which is engageable with the bottom side of the operation lever 18 and with an integral downward projection 22 to operate a switch button 21 of a switch for starting the motor 4. The lever mechanism 16 also includes a coil spring 26 disposed between the actuating handle lever 25 and the free end of the operation lever 18. The spring 26 functions to bias the operation lever 18 and the handle lever 25 toward each other.

In opening a can identified by a reference character C in FIG. 4, the lower edge of the outer layer of the end seam of the can is engaged with the can rim engaging teeth of the cog wheel 7. When the actuating handle lever 25 is depressed, the operation lever 18 is rotated downwardly by way of the coil spring 26 and in turn, the link 19 is lowered. This causes rotation of the rotary metal plate 11. Accordingly, the can cover engaging roller 9 descends along the upper slant portion of the front face 2 to engage with the inner side of the end seam of the can.

A further depression of the actuating handle lever 25 will stretch the spring 26 to further lower the link 19. Thus, the lower edge of the outer layer of the end seam of the can is forcibly pressed onto the can rim drive cog wheel 7 and the cutting edge of the cutting wheel 8 cuts into the outer layer of the end seam of the can. Simultaneously, the upper projection 24 of the handle lever 25 leaves the operation lever 18 and the lower projection 22 pushes the switch button 21 of the switch 20 to activate the motor 4. Consequently, the returning force of the spring 26 further urges the engaging roller 9 toward the inner side of the end seam by way of the operation lever 18 and the link 19. Thus, the thicker portion of the cam seam is smoothly severed in the same manner as the regular portion of the end seam of the can and the can continues to rotate so as to complete the severingaction.

Upon completion of the cutting operation, the depressed actuating handle lever 25 is released and moved upwardly by the resilient force of the spring 26. The upper projection 24 engages the operation lever 18 and the lower flap 22 releases the switch button 21 to open the switch 20. When the motor 4 stops, the can C stays on the drive cog wheel 7 because of the engaging roller 9 which still engages with the inner side of the end seam of the can. The can C can be removed from the can opener l by lifting the handle lever 25 upwardly, which releases the engagement of the roller 9 with the inner side of the end seam of the can.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications and variations thereof are possible in light of these teachings. It is to be understood therefore that within the scope of appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrically powered can opener of the type adapted to sever the outer layer of an end seam ofa can and including a body frame, an electric motor housed within said body frame, a drive shaft driven by said motor horizontally journalled on and protruding from the vertical front member of said frame, a can rim drive cog wheel mounted on the protruding portion of said shaft to rotate a can by driving the lower edge of the outer layer of the can end seam, a cutting wheel rotatably mounted on said front member and positioned so that the cutting edge thereof may be engaged with the outer layer of the end seam ofa can, a lever mechanism mounted on said frame to activate said motor, and a cam rim engaging roller mounted on said lever mechanism in such a manner that the engaging portion of said roller may be brought inside the inner layer of the end seam of a can to depress the seam toward the cutting edge of said cutting wheel upon operating said lever mechanism; the improvement wherein said lever mechanism comprises an actuating lever pivoted for vertical movement to said body frame for activating said motor when lowered, an operation lever pivoted at one end co-axially with said actuating lever, a rotary plate having said can rim engaging roller mounted thereon and journalled at one end and having its other end pivotally connected by a link to a portion of said operation lever, and a resilient means connected between the other end of said operation lever and a portion of said actuating lever for normally biasing said actuating and operating levers toward each other, whereby said resilient means is stretched by a predetermined amount while said roller depresses the inner layer of a can end seam and is further stretched when said cutting edge of said cutting wheel severs a thicker portion of the outer layer of a can end seam.

2. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 1, wherein said actuating and operation levers are co-axially pivoted on a bracket integral with the inner wall surface of said front member.

3. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 2, wherein said actuating lever extends rearwardly through a slit in a rear wall of said body member for access and manual operation.

4. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 2, wherein said actuating lever includes integral upper and lower projections, said upper projection being engageable with the bottom portion of said operation lever and said lower projection engaging a switch for activating said motor.

5. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means is a coil spring. 

1. In an electrically powered can opener of the type adapted to sever the outer layer of an end seam of a can and including a body frame, an electric motor housed within said body frame, a drive shaft driven by said motor horizontally journalled on and protruding from the vertical front member of said frame, a can rim drive cog wheel mounted on the protruding portion of said shaft to rotate a can by driving the lower edge of the outer layer of the can end seam, a cutting wheel rotatably mounted on said front member and positioned so that the cutting edge thereof may be engaged with the outer layer of the end seam of a can, a lever mechanism mounted on said frame to activate said motor, and a cam rim engaging roller mounted on said lever mechanism in such a manner that the engaging portion of said roller may be brought inside the inner layer of the end seam of a can to depress the seam toward the cutting edge of said cutting wheel upon operating said lever mechanism; the improvement wherein said lever mechanism comprises an actuating lever pivoted for vertical movement to said body frame for activating said motor when lowered, an operation lever pivoted at one end co-axially with said actuating lever, a rotary plate having said can rim engaging roller mounted thereon and journalled at one end and having its other end pivotally connected by a link to a portion of said operation lever, and a resilient means connected between the other end of said operation lever and a portion of said actuating lever for normally biasing said actuating and operating levers toward each other, whereby said resilient means is stretched by a predetermined amount while said roller depresses the inner layer of a can end seam and is further stretched when said cutting edge of said cutting wheel severs a thicker portion of the outer layer of a can end seam.
 2. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 1, wherein said actuating and operation levers are co-axially pivoted on a bracket integral with the inner wall surface of said front member.
 3. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 2, wherein said actuating lever extends rearwardly through a slit in a rear wall of said body member for access and manual operation.
 4. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 2, wherein said actuating lever includes integral upper and lower projections, said upper projection being engageable with the bottom portion of said operation lever and said lower projection engaging a switch for activating said motor.
 5. An electrically powered can opener according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means is a coil spring. 